The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-10
LABOR AND THE CHURCH.

LABOR AND THE CHURCH.
Mr.. Powderiy Writes q Letter Concerning the
knights and the Holy See.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal
MINNEAPoLIs, MINI, Oct. 9.--The letter pre-
pared by General Master Workman Powderly
upon the attitude Of the Catholic Church toward
the Knights of Labor, and which has been
awaited with more than ordinary interest by
the members of the order throughout the coun-
try. was finally completed tonight and will be
presented to the General Assembly in the morn
ing. 1t reads as follows:
I'm the month of October of last year Cardi-
nal Gibbons called the arehbishops of America
together to discuss serious matters appertaining
TO the church in this country, the principal
among these being the relationship of the order
of the Knights of Labor with secret societies.
Protestants and Catholics became deeply inter-
ested in the attitude which these twelve power
full prelates. who are at the head of the Ameri-
can hierarchy, would take with reference to the
labor problem 1t had 1sen ,,sep ssp
tiles that the Knights were seeking to
revolutionize generally accepted fundamental
principles by claiming for labor the right to die
tate to capital, and in this manner were seeking
to bring into full force popular sovereignty in op-
position to private rights; that they were follow
ing the example of the French Socialists and ar
rogating to themselves the right of ordering
strikes whenever it suited their purposes, and
by these strikes cause the loss of life and de-
struction OF private property, and that. should
the order prosper, with its pernicous principles.
it would inevitably lead its members and the
working classes generally from iusubordnatiou
to anarchy and socialism If the principles of
the Knights of Labor were ever to prevail among
the people, faith and religion would be forever
destroyed in our country.
THUS spoke the enemies of organized labor.
Immediately after the close of the last session
of the General Assembly. in Richmond. your
general master workman received a courteous
invitation from his Eminence the Cardinal to
come to Baltimore as his presence there was
urgently required for the purpose of Offering
testimony matters concerning the order and
upon which his Eminence desired particular in
formation. I selected brothers John w. Hayes
and Tom O'Reilly to accompany me to Balti-
Our committee submitted to his Emil
that the unifying force of the order of the
knights of Labor consisted in the breadth and
purity of the principles inculcated, and
the cultivation OF intellectual moral and
social happiness. We are like unto
band Of f. brothers hers engaged i1 IL
strengthen our love of country and would in
tensify. elevate and ennoble our patriotism. In
our order, composed as it is of various European
nationalites, one Of the most gratifying features
is the rapiditv with which these become aEsimf-
lated and welded together, forming a united
whole. strong and indissolube. tree is known
by its fruit men by their Deeds and systems by
their results. Believing firmly in the righteous
ness OF our cause, we ask your Eminence to ex-
anime the records of our order and the records
of our prominent me mbers who have for years
upheld our principles. 1t Is our hope, it is
desire. to purge the order of the violent ele-
ment-ths element of radical men who want to
During the interview, which was of
long duration, Cardinal Gibbons said in sub
stance After what we have just learned. the
present condition of the order is to US un-
mistakable indication that the contrib Of your
organization still rests with the conservative
element and is guarantee that there will be
features Of it's policy, which command the for
bearance and respect, il not the approval, of the
entire country. With prudent leaders and a
wise general policy your vast and rapidly in
creasng army of wage workers Is destined to
exert a tremendous influence in the social and
political affairs of the country. We now infer
that hat the objects OF d the hnghss no.a Of
to the views of the Catholic Church.
The Catholic prelates will declare in favor of
labor. The Catholic Church il America will
We readily believe that to rescue the toiler
from the grasp of the selfish is work worthy
of the noblest and best of our race. and we rec
ognize that it Is to the accomplishment OF that
grand object that the order of the Knights of
Labor is bending its every energy. The church
is justly watchful against all secret organiza
ends and methods of organization iustifa-
BILE, and secrecy raises a presumption that
there is something which will not bear the light
of day. The Catholic Church is most visible to
all creation, and instinctively guards against
secrecy and concealment. The church in
all its actions is the protector OF
those VINO live Dy the LABOR OF LDeir n6n0S. Inc
denial of the right of the church TO
interfere with her children when she fears that
their is dangerous to morals or perilous
the security of society, cannot be sustained in
any way either upon Catholic or Protestant
teaching or practice. The testimonies from
great Protestant writer's show conclusivey that
the best minds outside of the church bear wit
ness that she has ever been the guardian and
friend of all men, and that for the masses in all
ages she has shown the most fer r-seeing wisdom,
Joined to the tenderest solicitude Organization
is the basis of all progress. political, social and
religious. We condemn the work of Anarchists.
Like Samson of DID, they would fain pull down
the edifice of the Constitution which shelters
them, even though they should perish in the
ruins. The men that would endeavor to under
mine the laws and institutions of this great
and glorious country deserve the fate of those
" no laid profane hands on the ark of the living
God. Socialism takes a defiant position beyond
the pale of the chuch, and announces such an
extreme policy that one does not need to hesi-
tate moment to reach conclusion to its
gious restraint as fatuous, denounces all extant
forms of worship, and goes back to what it calls
NATURE" and what the world calls atheism.
We express full faith in the maintenance of
sriendliness between the church and the order |
80 long as you keep free from affiliations with
the dangerous associations, and devote your
selves TO the fulfllment of your legitimate mis-
zion. The church
- '"Plays the tyrant. plants faith in blood.
Nor bears destruction on her chariot wheels;
But stoops to polish. succor and redress.
And builds her grandeur on the pubic good"
"His Eminence intimated to your committee |
his intended journey TO Rome, promised to ex- |
plain the purposes of the organization to the |
Vatican, and requested permission to pledge the |